A patient who is an active alcoholic is admitted to the hospital for surgery. The nurse reviewing orders for this patient would be correct to question which postoperative medication for this pa-tient?
a. Acetaminophen
b. Diazepam
c. Morphine
d. Thiamine
A
Acetaminophen poses a risk of fatal liver damage in alcoholics, because evidence indicates that even modest alcohol consumption combined with acetaminophen has this effect. Diazepam would probably be useful in this case, because it is used to aid alcohol withdrawal. However, di-azepam cannot be taken with alcohol, because the central nervous system (CNS) depressive ef-fects would be compounded. Likewise, morphine is safe as long as it is not given with alcohol. Thiamine is a vitamin that often is deficient in alcoholics, so thiamine would be indicated.
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